Model Railway Forum

Finally managed to get my 4 track gantry on the layout and the 4 LED Red/Green signals working at the second attempt!
I had a senior moment over the weekend, after much testing with 9v battery on the workbench I took it up to the loft, wired it up to the switches and blew the LEDs, I had failed to put the resistors in each set of lights
After much gnashing of teeth, a few profanities, I finally removed the burnt out leds and replaced them, not easy soldering inside the gantry re attached the existing wires and retested the lights.
It's now up and working and I am quite pleased with it, I have made mistakes, but also learned a few lessons for the next one.

I have two of those built and painted ready to convert to working signals. Been putting it off until I finally decide where on the new layout the gantries will go so I can fix the lamp brackets in the right place. At present all lights are on via very bright paint.

Have you got any pictures of the job.

Hi Tim

Sorry you blew your LEDs but the golden rule is always add a series resistor unless the LEDs are 12 volt (or volt) rated one where a resistor is factory built inside the LED
Don't forget to post some pictures of the gantry

Operated by on-(off)-on switches.
The lights are made from single choc box connectors with the back cut off, 3mm leds glued into them and wired along the centre of the gantry with Telephone wire for stiffness. resistors below the baseboard at second attempt

Hi guys
I hope you are all safe and well.
With the lessons learned on my first signal gantry, i have bought pre wired 3mm LEDs.
The setting up is much easier, plus not having to shrink on insulation helps, so total redesign of lights.
I will update photos as i progress.

2nd attempt using pre wired LEDs Much easier, but a few more wires to hide!